The 10 Most Dangerous Foods in Your Kitchen

Some foods in your kitchen aren't so safe. Read on to discover the dangerous foods you should be aware of.

Image Credit: Getty Images

2/11

Avocados

Have you ever tried to remove the pit of an avocado by striking your knife into it? The method could result in a pretty bad injury to your hand if you aren't careful. Protecting your entire hand with something layered like a hot pad or dish towel is a good tactic to keep in mind.

Image Credit: Getty Images

3/11

Bagels

Bringing warm bagels home from the bakery doesn't seem all that dangerous—until you start slicing them. Some people cut their fingers so badly while cutting bagels open that they land in the emergency room! It's the reason those bagel "guillotines" were invented.

Image Credit: Getty Images

4/11

Jalapenos

Jalapenos add a nice kick to salsas, but your body can actually have a bad reaction to them. Even though the seeds and veins of the peppers are what make your dishes spicy, the oils are what can irritate your skin. It helps to wear gloves while handling them to protect yourself.

Image Credit: Getty Images

5/11

Raw Meat

Outside of handling foods like bagels, avocados and jalapenos, some foods, like raw poultry and meat, can be dangerous on their own. They can contain harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. coli which can spread around your kitchen if you don't store them properly and separate them from other foods. Knowing the right cooking methods can also prevent food poisoning.

Image Credit: Getty Images

6/11

Raw Cookie Dough

It's difficult not to give into the temptation to eat a spoonful of raw cookie dough while preparing cookies for baking, but like raw meat, it can carry harmful bacteria and cause sickness. Cookie dough contains uncooked eggs, which may contain salmonella. Even though it isn't easy, you should resist eating it until it's been cooked!

Image Credit: Getty Images

7/11

Fish

It's pretty well-known by now that fish can contain harmful levels of mercury. However, some are worse than others. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, swordfish is one you may really want to avoid.

Image Credit: Getty Images

8/11

Microwave Popcorn

While tossing a bag of popcorn in the microwave is a convenient way to make a snack, the chemicals used in the bags microwave popcorn comes in may be linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancers. In other words, it might be better to pop your own!

Image Credit: Getty Images

9/11

Canned Food

Check those canned goods in your grocery cart before you purchase them. If they're dented, you may want to avoid eating what's inside. If food is improperly canned, it can lead to botulism, a rare but serious illness that can lead to muscle paralysis.

Image Credit: Getty Images

10/11

Milk

According to the FDA, over 160 foods can cause allergic reactions. The law identifies the eight that are most common, and milk is at the top of the list. (The other seven include eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.)

Image Credit: Getty Images

11/11

Spinach

Vegetables like spinach and lettuce are vulnerable to E. coli contamination on farms, and being exposed to it can damage the lining of the small intestine and cause horrible symptoms.

While a morning bagel can be pretty satisfying, it turns out the breakfast food may not be as harmless as you think! Some common foods in your kitchen right now could send you to the emergency room, and the breakfast staple is just one example.

Some foods can cause injuries, while others are potentially sickening. Avocados, microwave popcorn and cookie dough are just a few in addition to bagels that you should know about. (That's not to say you can't enjoy some of these foods. You may just have to be a little more careful with them!)